Lecture 1 - Psych 100

Question 1

What is psychology?

Answer 1

Scientific study of the mind and behavior

Question 2

Empirical Methods

Answer 2

Experimentation & Systematic Observation

Question 3

Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 3

• First referred psychologist
• Created first laboratory in 1879
  Defined psychology as the scientific study of conscious experience.
• Believed in Voluntarism

Question 4

Structuralism

Answer 4

• Ideas establish Wundt, coined and further developed by Edward Titchener (student of Wundt)
• Investigated: Compounds of consciousness & components shaping conscious behavior
• Introspection: the examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes.

Question 5

Functionalism

Answer 5

• William James (1st American Psych.) opposed structuralism
• Influenced by Darwin’s evolutionary theory
• Investigated: Operation of consciousness as a ‘whole’ instead of individual components & Function of behavior
• Relied on objective measures

Question 6

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

Answer 6

• Austrian Physician
• Fascinated by patients suffering from “hysteria” and neurosis
• Theorized that problems arose from the unconscious mind
• Crucial to gain access to the unconscious
• Founder of Psychoanalysis

Question 7

Psychoanalytic Theory

Answer 7

• A method of treatment for mental disorders
• Emphasis on unconscious processes
• Early childhood as influencing behavior
• Slip of the tongue (Parapraxis)
• Dream analysis

Question 8

Pros & Cons of Freud

Answer 8

Pros: Some of his beliefs we still hold today, significant influence on current clinical practice

Cons:
- Too simple to explain human mind
- Overemphasized sexuality
- ‘Pseudo-science’

Question 9

Gestalt Psychology

Answer 9

German Psychologists: Kohler, Koffka, & Wertheimer
- Introduced Gestalt principles in American Psychology
- Gestalt = “Form” - emphasized perception of the whole rather than individual parts
- Rejected basic principles of structuralism
- Faces challenges from conflicting schools of thought in U.S.
- Influenced humanistic theories and cognitive psychology

Question 10

Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)

Answer 10

• Behaviorism
• Classical conditioning
• Pavlov’s dogs: Salivation, food, and a tuning fork

Question 11

John Watson (1878-1958)

Answer 11

• Founder of Behaviorism
• Believed objective analysis of the mind to be impossible
• Radical reorientation of psychology as a science of observable behavior
• Focused on ways to shape behavior
• Little Albert

Question 12

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)

Answer 12

• Focused on consequences impact on behaviors
• Believed reinforcement and punishment as main drivers of behavior
• Operant conditioning

Question 13

Operant Conditioning

Answer 13

• Behaviors that receive positive outcomes are repeated
• Behaviors that receive negative outcomes are not repeated

Question 14

Humanism

Answer 14

• Personal control, intentionality, & true predisposition for “good” as determining factors of self-concept and behavior
• Emphasizes the potential good that is innate to all humans

Question 15

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

Answer 15

• Humanism
• Hierarchy of Needs

Question 16

Hierarchy of Needs

Answer 16

Top - Self-Actualization: morality, creativity, acceptance, meaning, etc
Self-Esteem: confidence, achievement, respect of others, the need to be a unique individual
Love & Belonging: friendship, family
Safety & Security: Health, employment, property, social ability
Bottom - Physiological Needs: breathing, food, water, shelter, clothing, sleep

Question 17

Carl Rogers (1902 - 1987)

Answer 17

• Emphasized unique qualities of humans: freedom & personal growth
• Client-centered therapy

Question 18

Cognitive Psychology

Answer 18

• Linguistics, neuroscience, & computer science increased interest in the mind
• Cognitive Revolution

Question 19

Noam Chomsky

Answer 19

• American linguist
• Critiqued behaviorism
• Advocates for attention to mental processes in psychology
• More interdisciplinary

Question 20

Multicultural Psychology

Answer 20

Develop theories and conduct research within diverse populations within a country

Question 21

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Answer 21

Compare populations across the countries

Question 22

Cons

Answer 22

Still have high risk of bias, tokenizing, or oversimplifying

Question 23

Biopsychology

Answer 23

• Biological basis of behavior
• Studies how the structure and function of the nervous system influences behavior

Question 24

Evolutionary Psychology

Answer 24

Predicts behaviors based on evolutionary theory and test them through observation or experimentation
- Looks at human psychological traits and evolved adaptations
- Natural selection: traits that improve our reproductive success are favored and survive on time

Question 25

Sensation

Answer 25

The input about the physical world obtained by our sensory receptors

Question 26

Perception

Answer 26

The process by which the brain selects, organizes, and interprets the sensations

Question 27

Sensation and Perception is interdisciplinary research

Answer 27

- Cognitive psychology - Biopsychology - Psychophysics - Humans and non-human animals

Question 28

Developmental Psychology

Answer 28

Study of how and why humans grow, change, and adapt across their lives

Question 29

Jean Piaget

Answer 29

Famous for his theories regarding changes in cognitive ability that occur as we move from infancy to adulthood - Object permanence

Question 30

Personality Psychology

Answer 30

Theories of personality have evolved over time - Quantitative approach, often using long questionnaires - Can be reductive, biased, and have varied applicability across cultures Big Five Personality Traits (OCEAN)

Question 31

OCEAN

Answer 31

Openness, Conscientious, Extraversion, Agreeable, Neuroticism

Question 32

Social Psychology

Answer 32

Study how social influence, social perception, & social interaction influence individual and group behavior including: - Prejudice, attraction, interpersonal conflicts, Conformity, Obedience (e.g., Milgram)

Question 33

Health Psychology

Answer 33

Focuses on how individual psychology is affected by biological, psychological, and sociocultural influences

Question 34

Clinical Psychology

Answer 34

Focuses on diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and problematic patterns of behavior - Involves clinical evaluations, therapy, & counseling

Question 35

Careers in Psychology

Answer 35

Most careers in psychology require a PhD or Masters degree. - Teaching - Research - Clinical psychologist - Counseling psychologist - Social work - Corporate & marketing jobs

Question 36

How long does it take? (AFTER completing undergraduate education)

Answer 36

* Clinical psychologist – PhD or PsyD (5 years) + post doc (1-3 years) * Research – PhD (5 years) + post doc (1-3 years) * Psychiatrist – MD (4 years) + psychiatric residency (4 years) * Social worker/mental health counselor – Master’s degree (2 years) + supervised experience (2 years)